Cradle Mountain is located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania (a state in Australia). It is situated in Cradle Mountain National park, and includes Lake St. Clair.

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Cradle Mountain is located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania (a state in Australia). It is situated in Cradle Mountain National park, and includes Lake St. Clair. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and was extended in 1989.

See the fact file below for more information on the Cradle Mountain or alternatively, you can download our 22-page World Heritage Sites: Cradle Mountain worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History and Geology of Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain is named after its resemblance to a gold mining cradle, pictured to the right.

The mountain forms the north end of the entire national park.

Remains found in caves scattered within Cradle Mountain, and Tasmania as a whole, dictate that human occupation of the area goes back more than 20,000 years.

The area was subjected to severe glaciation thousands of years ago, and the mountain itself was formed over Dove Lake, Lake Wilks, and Crater Lake.

Cradle Mountain shows geological evidence of 3 different glacial stages that took place over the span of the last 2 million years.

The National Park also boasts Tasmania’s highest mountain; Mt. Ossa, which is known for its Jurassic Dolerite peaks.

Jurassic Dolerite refers to the igneous rock that formed during the Jurassic Period in Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain has four summits that have been named, as seen in the table to the right.

These peaks can be (and are) climbed year-round by avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Cradle Mountain is one of the main tourist sites in Tasmania.

Geography and Climate of Cradle Mountain

Lake St. Clair is Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake.

The lake itself is a result of the occurrence of glacial periods over the last 2 million years.

Cradle Mountain National Park experiences a typical southern hemisphere climate, where the summer is cold and the winter is hot.

The rainy season at the park is between July and September, with some months receiving over 9 inches of rain!

Due to its jagged contours, Cradle Mountain gives off a rugged, wild feel; the rainforest and heathlands provide a wide variety of environments, flora, and fauna to explore.

Hikers usually come across icy streams that flow from the mountains, pine trees, and pristine waters from glacial lakes.

The mountain itself is composed of a variety of rock types and soils.

Cradle Mountain is covered with alpine and subalpine vegetation, including varieties of Tasmanian eyebright (pictured to the right), scoparia heath, mountain rocket, and a variety of pine trees.

There is a wide variety of fungi that exist in the park as well, and they work to benefit the ecosystem by recycling organic matter and breaking down fallen branches and leaves.

You would likely encounter wombats, Tasmanian devils, tiger snakes, and echidnas while at Cradle Mountain, as well as spot pink robins, peregrine falcons, and many other beautiful birds.

Facts about Cradle Mountain

The main tourist hubs in the park are Cradle Mountain Village and Derwent Bridge.

The national park is a prime location for Australia’s endemic (meaning, native or restricted to) species.

Around half of the alpine flora in the park is endemic, meaning it only grows in that area in Australia, and nowhere else in the world.

The vegetation in the park is very diverse and has been fortunate to escape the forest fires that have damaged other parts of Tasmania.

The park is important for the 11 endemic bird species in Tasmania, and it has been identified as an IBA (Important Bird Area).

Many people in Australia view the fungus as a problem, but it is actually crucial to the survival of the ecosystems.

The documentary on the Discovery Channel titled “When Dinosaurs Roamed America” was filmed partially in Cradle Mountain National Park.

The mountain is open to climbers year-round, and most hikers take the Overland Track, which is one of Australia’s most famous hiking tracks (pictured above).

From the summit, hikers can see Dove Lake, Barn Bluff, and Mount Ossa; Cradle Mountain is the 5th highest mountain in Tasmania.

Bad weather is known to arrive swiftly in the area.

Cradle Mountain

World Heritage Sites: Cradle Mountain Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Cradle Mountain across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use World Heritage Sites: Cradle Mountain worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Cradle Mountain which is located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania (a state in Australia). It is situated in Cradle Mountain National park, and includes Lake St. Clair. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and was extended in 1989.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Cradle Mountain Facts.

Cradle Mountain Crossword.

The “Gates of Mordor”.

What the Fungi?

Cradle Mountain Quiz.

Map of Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain Wordsearch.

Redesign the Tasmanian Flag.

Fill-in-the-Blanks.

Cradle Mountain Acrostic.

See, Think, Wonder.

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